Gas-liquid contact device



oct. 1, 1957 A, M CHAMB-Rg y 2,808,246

` CAS-LIQUID CONTACT DEVICE Filed May 27, 1954 TO INTAKE MANIFOLD INVENTOR. ,4. IW. Chamber? BYE/1%@ @MZ/ 4 TTRA/EYS United States Patent GAS-LIQUID CONTACT DEVICE Alexander M. Chambers, Richmond, Calif. Application MayV 27, 1954, serial No. 432,636

e 4 Claims. (Cl. 2615-122) This invention relates generally to a device for feeding small quantities of a liquid material to an internal combustion engine. j v

In the operation of internal combustion engines of the automotive type, making use of the liquid fuel carburetor, it is frequently desirable to feed small amounts of liquid material to the engine to supplement the carbureted fuel. For example, it has been found desirable to introduce small amounts of a detergent tune up oil into the intake manifold to prevent accumulation of carbon in the cylinders, to maintain the valves adequately lubricated, and to generally promote efficient operation of the engine. Conventional feed devices which are available for this purpose have been found to be unsatisfactory. It is difficult to insert the liquid-material into the feed device without the use of additional equipment. It has also been found that conventional feed devices carry such a small amount of the liquid material that constant refilling is necessary.

In general it is an object of the present invention to provide a simple feed device suitable for the purpose referred to above and which will eliminate the above mentioned diiculties.

Another object of the invention is to provide a feed device of the above character which will carry adequate quantities of the liquid material to thereby avoid the necessity of constant refilling.

AnotherV object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character which can be filled easily from conventional containers containing the liquid material.

Additional objects of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiment has been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

Referring `to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the construction of my device.

Figure 2 is a partial side elevation view partly in cross section of my device.

Figure 3 is across-sectional view taken along the line 3 3 of Figure 1. 1 1

In general the present invention consists of a liquid injecting devicehaving means capable of receiving a can containing the liquid material, and means for perforating the can to allow the liquid to drain therefrom as the liquid is consumed.

Theembodiment of my device shown in the drawing consists of a vessel 11 which can be of any suitable shape, such as cylindrical, and which `can be made of plastic, glass, or like transparent material. A-metal cover 12 is screwed to the top of the vessel 11 and is provided with a flange 13 which supports the metalchamber 14. The chamberV 14 is provided with a hinged cover 16 for a purpose hereinafter described. The cap 12, the chamber 14 and the cover 16 can be formed of any suitable ma- Vterial such as pressed sheet metal. Suitable sealing means can be provided between the cap 12 and the vessel 11 and 2,808,246 Patented Oct. 1, 1957 2 between the cover 16 and the chamber 14, such as gaskets 17 and 18.

The cap 12 serves to mount a tube 19 which haspits outer upper end provided with air filtering means such as a metal screen 20, and has its lower end provided with bubble forming means 21. The bubble forming means consists of a porous body 22 which is cylindrical and has an axial opening to accommodate the lower portion of the tube 19. Washers 23 and 24 engage the ends of the body 22 and are held in clamped position by the nuts 26 and 27. The partl of the tube 19 between the washers 23`and 24 is provided with a plurality of openings 28 for admitting air to the Vinterior of the body 2 2. The porous body 22 may be formed by compressing apowered metal or metal alloy and then sintering the same at an elevated temperature to form a highly porous body of considerable strength. j

Another tube 31 mounted in the cap 12 andhas lits 'upper end extending into the bottom of the chamber 14. The upper end is provided with a suitable straining device such as a metal screen 32.Y The lower end of the tube 31 is equipped withra float operated valveV 33. Thus a suitable float 34 has a pivotal connection 3 6 to the lower end of the tube 31. A linger 37 engages the lower end of a movable valve member 38 which cooperates with the stationary valve seat 39 whereby raising and lowering of the float 34 causes the valve member 38 to move between closed and` open positions relative to the valve seat 39.

Another tube`41 extends downwardly through vthe cap 12 and has its lower end terminating a substantial distance above the float 34. A suitable screening means is provided on the lower end of the tube 41 such as the metal screen 42. The exterior end of the tube 41 is provided with a pair of feed control valves 43 and 44 and a How restricting orifice 46. A tube 47 serves to connect the Valve 44 to the piperv 48 in such a manner thatvvalve 44 by-passes the orifice 46 for a purpose hereinafter described. Valves 43 and 44 are of the con-Y ventional manually operated needle valve type. Pipe 48 is connected to the intake manifold of an internal cornbustion engine in such a manner that it introduces liquid into the intake manifold between the carburetor and the engine.

Visual indicating means such as the transparent plastic or glass section 49 in pipe 48 may be providedso that the rate of ow of liquid material in pipe 48 can be observed. i

The chamber 14 is adapted to receive a conventional sealed container 51 filled with liquid material intended to be introduced into the internal combustion engine, such as a tune up oil. A perforator 52 is mounted on the bottom of the chamber 14 and is adapted to engage and perforate the bottom of the can 51 as it is positioned in the 'chamber 14. The cover 16 is also provided with a perforator 53 which is adapted to perforate the top of the can when the cover is closed upon the can 51, thus providing an air vent. A suitable screen fitting 5,4 in the cover 16 extends to the atmosphere and serves to admit air into the chamber 14.

Suitable clamping means Vmay be provided for fastening the cover 16 to the chamber 14, such as the spring clamp 57. Means may be provided for preventing the can 51 from being jostled about within the container 14, such as the spring 58 tted to the bottom of the chamber 14 and engaging the bottom of can 51. Spring 58 also serves to eject the can 51 a slight distance above the `top of chamber 14 when the cover 16 is raised, thus facili,- tating easy removal of the-can.

Operation of the devicedrescribed above isas follows:

A'can 51 of Ythe desired liquid material is placed'n the chamber 14 and pressed down upon the spring 58 until the perforator 52 punches a hole in the bottom of the can, thus allowing the liquid material to start draining from the can into the bottom of the chamber 14. When the cover 16 is closed, the top of the can is also perforated by means of the perforator 53, to permit entrance of air.

The liquid material continues to ow out of the can 5 1 through the tube 31 into the vessel 11 until the level of the liquid material is suficient to` cause the oat 34 to close the valve 33. Thereafter, the liquid will continue to flow out of the can 51 until the liquid level in the chamber 14 is the same as the liquid level in the can 51.

It is apparent that since the pipe 48 is connected to the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, a suction will be applied to pipe 48 as soon as the internal combustion engine is operating. Thus, a Suction will be applied to the orifice 46, valve 43, and to pipe 41 to draw atmospherie air through the pipe 19 and the porous body 22. The porous body 22 causes the air to be dispersed as small bubbles into the body of liquid material. Aeration of the liquid material causes foaming, which after a period of time, causes the 'formation of a considerable layer of foam on top of the liquid material. Breakage of the bubbles causes some vaporization and also causes small droplets of the liquid to be entrained in the air in the upper part of the vessel. The resulting mixture of air, vapor and small droplets is drawn through screen 42, pipe 41, valve 43, orifice 46, pipe 4 8 and into the intake manifold. Assuming that the liquid materialis a detergent tune up oil,

fold and into the cylinder to prevent accumulation of the carbon on the pistons and the valves to generally promote eficient operation of the engine.

Valve l43 has` been provided to control the rate of ow of the liquid material to the intake manifold. Visual indicating means 49 can be watched while operating valve 43 to determine the proper rate of ow of the liquid material. The restricted oriice 46 has been provided so that all of the suction of the intake manifold will not be applied to valve 43, thereby preventing undue stress on the valve 43. It has been found that by use of this orifice 46, the adjustment of valve 43 is not nearly so critical and it is easier to adjust to obtain the passage of the proper amount of liquid material.

The valve 44 in conjunction with the tube 47 serves to by-pass the ow restricting orifice 46. Thus, when valves 43 and 44 are opened, the suction of the intake y manifold is applied directly to pipe 21 and thus larger quantities of liquid material can pass into the intake manifold. This may be desirable when such Va device is first attached to an internal combustion engine and at subsequent intervals to remove accumulated carbon.

The upper end of the pipe 19 has been extended above the normal liquid level in the chamber 14 so as to prevent spillage of the liquid material in case the oat operated valve 33 jams and allows an excess of liquid material to drain into the vessel 11.

It will be evident from the foregoing that I have provided a device for injecting liquid material such as tune up oil into the intake manifold in which adjustment of the valves is not critical. I have Vincorporated in my device means for storing a co-nsiderable quantity of the liquid material thereby eliminating the necessity for fre-` quent reiilling. In addition, means have also been provided for puncturing the containers for the liquid material.

Iclaim:

l. In a feed device for introducing liquid material from a can containing the liquid material into the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, a vessel adapted to contain a quantity of liquid, a reservoir mounted on top of said vessel and adapted to receive a can, said reservoir having means for puncturing said can to permit the liquid material therein to drain into the reservoir, a rst pipe having its upper end opening into the bottom of said reservoir and extending downwardly into said vessel, valve means mounted on the lower end of said first pipe, a oat disposed within the vessel for controlling said valve means for maintaining the liquid within said vessel at a predetermined level, a second pipe mounted on said vessel and having its upper end exposed to the atmosphere and having its lower end extending downwardly into said vessel to a point below the level of the liquid in said vessel, and a third pipe mounted on said vessel and having one end extending downwardly into the vessel but terminating a substantial distance above said oat and having the other end connected to the intake manifold of the internal combustion engine.

2. A device as in claim l wherein the upper end of said second pipe extends above the normal high level point of the liquid in said reservoir to prevent spillage of the liquid in the event of misoperation of the oat controlled valve means.

3. vA device as in claim 1 wherein ow control means are mounted on the third pipe connecting the vessel to the intake manifold, said ow control means comprising a valve mounted in said third pipe, and a restricted orifice mounted in said third pipe between said valve and the intake manifold, and additional valve means mounted in said third pipe for lay-passing said restricted oriiice.

4. In a feed device for introducing liquid material into the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, a vessel adapted to contain a quantity of liquid, a reservoir mounted on top of said vessel and adapted to contain a quantity of said liquid, a rst pipe having its upper end opening into the bottom of said reservoir and extending downwardly into said vessel, valve means mounted on the lower end of said first pipe, a float disposed within the vessel for controlling said valve means to maintain the liquid within said vessel at a predetermined level, a second pipe mounted in said vessel and having its upper end exposed to the atmosphere and having its lower end `extending downwardly into said vessel to a point below the level of the liquid in said vessel, aerating means mounted on the lower end of said pipe, said aerating means comprising an annular porous body axially disposedon the lower end of said second pipe, said second pipe having a plurality of openings in contact with said body to allow the introduction of air into the. pores of the body, a third pipe mounted on said vessel having one end extending downwardly into the vessel but terminating a substantial distance above said ioat and having the other end connected to said intake manifold, and ow control means mounted in said third pipe, said ow control means comprising a valve mounted in said pipe, a restricted orifice mounted in said pipe between said valve and the intake manifold, and additional valve means mounted in said third pipe for bypassing said restricted orilice.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Chambers Aug. 31,1954 

